Author Josh Funk's Press Kit

Press Kit

This page contains high resolution images of Josh Funk's head shot and book covers along with various length biographies for use by media. If additional materials are needed, please contact Josh here.

Author Photos

(click on images to download)

Photo Credit: Carter Hasegawa, 2017

Photo Credit: Carter Hasegawa, 2023

Book Covers

(click on images to download high resolution files)

Biography

Full Bio:

Josh Funk writes silly stories such as the Lady Pancake & Sir French Toast series (including the five sequels: The Case of the Stinky Stench, Mission Defrostable, Short & Sweet, The Great Caper Caper, Attack of the Scones, and Whodonut? A Holiday Mystery), the How to Code with Pearl and Pascal series (including How to Code a Sandcastle and How to Code a Rollercoaster), Dear Unicorn, Dear Dragon, My Pet Feet, the It's Not a Fairy Tale series (including It's Not Jack and the Beanstalk, It's Not Hansel and Gretel, It's Not Little Red Riding Hood, and It's Not the Three Little Pigs), the A Story of Patience & Fortitude series in conjunction with the New York Public Library (including Lost in the Library and Where Is Our Library?), Albie Newton, Pirasaurs!, A Night at the Bookstore: A Barnsie & Noble Adventure, and more coming soon!

Josh grew up in New England and studied Computer Science in school. Today, he still lives in New England and when not writing Java code or Python scripts, he drinks Java coffee and writes manuscripts. Since the fall of 2015, Josh has presented (or virtually presented) at over 800 schools, classrooms, and libraries and over 300 bookshops, book festivals, and conferences.

Josh is terrible at writing bios, so please help fill in the blanks. Josh enjoys _______ during ________ and has always loved __________. He has played ____________ since age __ and his biggest fear in life is being eaten by a __________.

For more information about Josh Funk, visit him at joshfunkbooks.com and on social media at @joshfunkbooks.

Medium Bio:

Josh Funk is a software engineer and the author of books like the Lady Pancake & Sir French Toast series, How to Code a Sandcastle, Dear Unicorn, Dear Dragon, My Pet Feet, the It's Not a Fairy Tale series, Lost in the Library, and more. His books have sold more than half a million copies worldwide and been translated into a dozen languages. He has presented (and virtually presented) at over 850 schools and libraries in the last decade since his first book was released. For more about Josh, visit joshfunkbooks.com and @joshfunkbooks on socials.

Short & Snappy Bio:

Josh Funk writes books for adults to read to children so that children fall in love with reading.

Very Short Bio:

Josh Funk writes books.

Bio Written by Josh's Cat:

Meow meow meow. Mew meow. Grrrr! MEOW! Mew mew meow mew meow. Me-oooooow! Mew.

Awards & Accolades

My Pet Feet

2024-25 Sunshine State Young Readers Award Jr. Title
2024-25 Young Hoosier Picture Book Award Nominee
2023 Massachusetts Book Award Must-Read Picture Book
2023 Official March Book Madness Picture Book Bracket Champion
2023 Funniest Book for Kids Andie Award Winner (via Anderson's Bookshops)
2022 Kids' Indie Next List Selection (Sep/Oct)
2022 August Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance (SIBA) Read This Next! Title

Dear Unicorn

2023 Kids' Indie Next List Selection (Sep/Oct)

Dear Dragon

2018-19 Missouri Association of School Librarians (MASL) Show Me Readers Award Nominee
2018-19 Indiana Library Federation (ILF) Young Hoosier Book Award Nominee
2017-18 Maine Chickadee Award Nominee
2017 Bank Street Best Children's Books of the Year
2017 International Literacy Association (ILA) Teacher’s Choice Reading List
2017 SCBWI New England Crystal Kite Finalist
2016 *Starred Review* from Kirkus
2016 Nerdy Book Club Award

Lady Pancake & Sir French Toast

2016 SCBWI New England Crystal Kite Finalist
2016 Barnes & Noble National Storytime Selection on 1/2/16
2015 Nerdy Book Club Award

The Case of the Stinky Stench

2017 Summer Indie Kids' Next List Selection
2017 Goodreads Choice Awards Best Picture Book of the Year Semifinalist

Mission Defrostable

2018 Fall Indie Kids' Next List Selection

Short & Sweet

2020 Fall Indie Kids' Next List Selection
2020 *Starred Review* from School Library Journal

The Great Caper Caper

2022 Kids' Indie Next List Selection (Nov/Dec)

Attack of the Scones

2024 Kids' Indie Next List Selection (Sep/Oct)

How to Code a Sandcastle

2019 ALSC El día de los niños / El día de los libros Selection
2019 International Literacy Association (ILA) Teacher’s Choice Reading List
2018 Smithsonian Ten Best Children's Books
2018 Summer Indie Kids' Next List Selection

It's Not the Three Little Pigs

2025 Indiana Library Federation (ILF) Upper Elementary Read Aloud List

It's Not Little Red Riding Hood

2022-23 Missouri Association of School Librarians (MASL) Show Me Readers Award Nominee
2022 Iris Award Shortlist
2021 Kids’ Book Choice Award Nominee for Favorite Early Reader Series
2021 Kids’ Book Choice Award Nominee for Best Picture Book Duo

It's Not Hansel and Gretel

2020-21 Michigan Great Lakes Great Books Grades 2-3 Honor Winner
2020 International Literacy Association (ILA) Children’s Choice Reading List
2020 Wisconsin State Reading Association (WSRA) Picture This Recommendation List
2019 Goodreads Choice Awards Best Picture Book of the Year Semifinalist

It's Not Jack and the Beanstalk